HOLIDAY PICTURES

MISSING MY PRECIOUS FAMILY AND DEAR FRIENDS - LOVE YOU ALL!!

IT'S A GIRL!

Goi had her baby yesterday. A beautiful little girl she named Benjawan, Ben for short. As you can see by her picture she has chubby cheeks and lots of dark black hair. I can't wait to hold her!

Goi had to have a c-section so we've gone to plan "b" at the house. Since she cannot climb stairs, we moved the dining room set into the living room and set up a nursery and bedroom for Goi and Ben on the main floor. We are fortunate that there is a bathroom on this floor. So, it looks like soon I will be caring for both Goi and the baby. This is definitely turning out to be an unusual Christmas.

I have been wishing for some of your snow and cold. It is very hot and humid in Bangkok right now!

All is well...Darrell comes soon! Being away from home is really difficult but life here keeps me "hopping." Susan

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS?

Hello everyone! We put up our Christmas tree over the weekend and Annie Dieselberg gave us a pointsettia tree that we placed OUTSIDE our front door. Now you couldn't do that in South Dakota!

I did not go to the Refugee Camp. Those of you who get the prayer letters know that we had several women missing over the weekend and Goi still has not had her baby. It wasn't the right time to leave the city. I did help pack the truck with over 3,000 individual bags of clothing for all the children. Each child got a sack with one complete outfit and a piece of clothing for an adult. I was told if the item doesn't fit, lots of bartering goes on. This is part of the fun for them. There were also snack foods they don't normally have as well as small toys. It is hard to imagine spending your whole life in a refugee camp. There are many refugee camps along the borders of Thailand filled with desperate people who have fled persecution and war in Burma, Laos, China and Vietnam. SO SAD!

This past week the people of Thailand celebrated the king's 80th birthday. The king is greatly loved in this country for his benevolence and genuine care for his people. There were huge fireworks displays every night for a week as well as displays of his picture surrounded by objects of devotion everywhere in the city. On Mondays of each week, Thai citizens wear yellow to honor the king and on queen's day they wear pink. There are even some very devoted citizens who watch a special tv channel to see what color the king is wearing that day so they can match their outfit to honor him. Can you imagine people wanting to match their outfit color to what George Bush is wearing that day? Another cultural difference that I am glad we don't have in the US>

Enjoy the season! Susan

THE BABY IS COMING SOON!

WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR OWN CHRISTMAS MIRACLE AT NIGHTLIGHT. What a blessing that this little one will become part of the NightLight family very soon.

I will be going with eight of the NightLight women to a Hmong refugee camp this Sunday and Monday. We will be delivering donated clothing, toys and food to brighten their Christmas celebration. There are over 3,000 people "living" in this camp. I have never been to a refugee camp so this will be another new experience in Asia. Our goal is to spread joy and love, not to get too emotional and shocked by their conditions. SO...please pray for me! You know how easily I cry. BUT...I also love to smile!

VIETNAM HIGHLIGHTS...wild cyclo ride on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam was quite an adventure in so many ways. I never thought I would ever visit Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) when I watched all the news reports of the Vietnam War decades ago.

It is definitely a country of contrasts...poverty, decay, tin shacks and just around the corner - beautiful highrise apartments and skyscrapers. Annie Dieselberg and I decided to take a cyclo tour of the city one morning. A cyclo is a small seat that is pushed/pedaled by a driver on a bicycle. Believe me, we got a least a years worth of lung pollution from all the motorcyles by the time we were finished!

The women's Christmas party that I spoke at was absolutely beautiful. It was located in one of the better hotels in the city. The women went all out decorating the room with all the special touches of Christmas. I was so amazed to look out over the gathering realizing that many of the guests had never been to an event like this and most imporatnatly never heard the true Christmas Story. Even the waiters hugged the walls of the room not wanting to miss a single word that was spoken or sung. As one of them said later, "We've never had something like this in our hotel. I have never heard about Jesus or his story."

I will probably never be allowed back into Vietnam! I decided that I would not only share the Christmas Story that day but as I was closing my message decided to offer a prayer of acceptance...an opportunity to really know the reason for Christmas, Jesus Christ. I did not know that there was someone from the government recording every word I said. I was glad I didn't know this when I was speaking because I might have held back a bit. I am sure that I am no longer welcome in Vietnam. But, I do not regret a single word I shared. This may have been the only chance some of these people will ever have to hear the TRUTH.

Pray with me that those who were touched by God that day will be protected, nutured and somehow find Christian community in this very oppressed nation. Those of us living in the Unted States are so very fortuntate that we have all of our freedoms - especially the freedom to CELEBRATE THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! SUSAN

LEAVING FOR VIETNAM

Just a quick update...I am leaving for Ho Ci Minh City, Vietnam on Tuesday. I have been asked to speak at a women's Christmas gathering sponsored by a 'legal" church. What do I mean by this? Vietnam is considered one of the most oppressive environments for Christians in the world today. This church has been given legal status because it is for foreigners. However, they operate with many restrictions such as being denied a pastor. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to share the real meaning of Christmas with many women since the women of the church are allowed to invite guests! It is hard to imagine how many Christians around the world live under terrible persecution for their fatih. In Vietnam Christians are beaten, jailed, denied employment and some have even lost their lives. Many churches have been burned to the ground and pastors imprisoned.

So...I NEED YOUR PRAYERS! I have been given a visa to enter the country. Anie Dieselberg will be going with me but has to return to Bangkok before te event. Pray for our safe entry and departure, of course protection and health while in Vietnam, and most of all discernment about what God wants me to share. This is such a unique experience and for some of these women it may be their only chance to hear and respond to the Gospel story.

I have inserted two photos...Ning,my roommate Sophia (in the purple) and I at NightLight...Annie Dieselberg, Sophia, myself and Beng at our Thanksgiving dinner. We had deep-fried turkey and all the trimmings...almost felt like home!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

It is hard to imagine that this is the week of Thanksgiving! Would you believe that they actually have turkeys, stuffing mix, and cranberries displayed in the grocery stores for the "farang". (farang means foreigner) I have been invited to Natalie's home for a real Thanksgiving dinner. Natalie is on the staff of NightLight. She and her husband Steve have lived and worked in Thailand for over five years. Steve is an executive with an oil company. Their daughter has become a friend of Haley Vellinga. They are classmates at Baylor University in Texas. Small World!!

The negative spiritual climate is rising here in Bangkok as several important Hindu and Buddhist festivals take place in the next several weeks. Two of the women from NightLight are staying with us temporarily because they are being harassed by spirits in their sleep. We have a full house! Goi's baby has dropped so she will deliver soon. Then we will have a newborn baby join our community at the volunteer house. I am looking forward to helping Goi experience the joys of motherhood. I just don't know the Thai ways...but I will soon learn.

Continue to pray for us as every day is a new challenge. There are twelve women waiting for prayer ministry and not enough hours in the day. At times I am so exhausted and then God gives me a spiritual boost. I am THANKFUL that his Holy Spirit empowers us to do the things we know we cannot do without Him.

I am so THANKFUL for the opportunity to serve God and see miracles everyday. I am so THANKFUL for family and friends who are praying for me and supporting me. I am so THANKFUL that I have been healed and delivered so God can use me to bring healing and deliverance.

I PRAISE HIM AND THANK HIM FOR HIS GOODNESS TO US ALL!

One Great Evening

We had the most wonderful event this week that really blessed everyone. A team of twelve women from Saddleback Church (Pastor Rick Warren, author of the Purpose Driven Life) visited Night Light. After spending a night with us doing outreach in the bars, they wanted to do something special for the women. They arranged a party at a restaurant the Thais love, paid the fee normally women get for a night of "work" and invited them to join us for an evening of fun. It was really FUN!

What a sight to see a parade of women from the bars coming into the restaurant and watch their eyes light up when they received flowers, hugs and other lovely gifts. One of the women, who is actually a "girly boy", had a birthday that day so we celebrated that as well. I've never sang happy birthday quite like this - part Thai and part English. There were smiles everywhere and several women actually wept when it was time to go.

The life of a bar girl is very hard. They are required to work six days a week and have fourteen customers (sexual encounters)in order to meet their monthly quota. In addition, they must get customers to purchase drinks and there is a quota for this as well. They are heavily fined if they don't meet these quotas, are one minute late, miss due to illness...the list goes on and on. It was such a gift to give them one night free. Best of all they loved being in the company of women who really cared about them as persons, valued by God and precious in his sight.

GREAT NEWS - one of the Thai women who lives with me in the volunteer house prayed to receive Christ. Salvations, healings, deliverances are happening every day!

Your prayer support is such a blessing - SUSAN...Friday, November 16

REPORT ON FIRST OUTREACH

It was so amazing to back on the streets and in the bars. Nothing has really changed except perhaps there are more trafficked women from Eastern Europe. I was able to pray with three women, all trafficked, Two women were from Uzbekistan and one from Tanzania. The woman from Tanzania shared her heart breaking story of coming to Bangkok with the promise from her "boss" that she could make lots of money to feed her children. Last year her husband died and she is desperate. It was such a privilege to listen to her story, hold her and pray for her. My heart is so burdened for the women like her who are so trapped.

Another of the women we spent time with was ill and trembling. She came immediately to us when she recognized Annie. We are hoping that we can help her get back home. Pray for her freedom and that she can escape from her situation without consequences.

Tomorrow I am taking part in a city-wide prayer walking event and worhsip service. This should be quite an experience!

IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK IN BKK

I arriived about four hours ago at the volunteer house where I will be staying. I met my roomate Sophie, a young Thai woman who works at Night Light Design. She had my bed ready, my part of the closet cleared to hang my clothes, and a fresh towel set out for a hot shower...none of which I've done yet because I am trying to be quiet so everyone can sleep! From what Annie (the director of Night Light) shared on the way from the airport, most of the women at the house are in their 20's and 30's so I am sure I will be like a mother figure to many of them. Actually, that may be a large part of my ministry this time. There are so many hurting women here who need a mother's love and care.

The time difference...my computer is still on SD time and it says Wednesday, 4:15 pm. In Bangkok is is Thursday, 5:15 am. So, it is 13 hours ahead of Central Standard Time. It will take me awhile to get that in my head.

Today will be a day of reconnecting and meeting new people at Night Light. I am really trying to learn everyone's name which is difficult since Thai names are hard to remember. There are three women named Nat. three Oy's, three Ems, and other names like Tuk, Gate, Moy, Oy, Rat and Rin. These are all nicknames. See why I am confused!

My first street outreach is Friday night. It will be interesting to see if there have been any significant changes. Driving from the airport through the area where Night Light is located and I am staying, we saw several groups of eastern European women. Obviously the trafficking hasn't stopped.

Blessings from Bangkok (BKK)

Check my blog for weekly updates!

2006 NightLight Mission Team

BREAKING THE CHAINS - setting the captive free

You are invited to join me on a great adventure with the Lord! In Isaiah 58, the prophet Isaiah challenges the people to break every yoke, repair the breach, and restore the streets in which to live...BREAKING THE CHAINS of oppression with healing and restoration, repairing the lives of those who have fallen into the gap of exploitation, and creating transformation as agents of His Light in the broken world all around us.

On November 4, I leave for Bangkok and three months of ministry at NightLight, an incredible organization that is reaching out to women in the sex industry...bringing light into the darkness of the Nana district. This is the same ministry I served in during January and February of 2007. I look forward with great anticipation to returning and ministering side-by-side with the great NightLight team as well as rebuildling relationships with the 85 incredible women who have come out of the "gap" and are now employed at Night Light Design creating beautiful jewelry. I will be sharing much more about NightLight in the future.

FOR NOW...I need your prayers as I bring closure to my ministry at First Baptist where I have served for over 14 years. There is pain in leaving, especially saying farewell to the many people who have been such a precious part of my life. When you journey together through the "ups and downs", share the highlight moments and dark valleys, rejoice in the God-moments with someone...how do you ever really say goodbye. So, I am choosing not to!

Instead...WELCOME TO THE JOURNEY WITH ME! I do not know where, how, when, only WHY! Most of all I know God is with us - Susan O